Utah to Arkansas to home

Well, it's about time I try to document this trip of mine. As I left Jaren at the beginning of the month, our plan was that I would be in Utah while he went off to SERE school. That's the Prisoner of War (POW) training that he has to complete to be a pilot. It lasts 3 weeks in duration, and you can't see each other, talk on the phone or anything. As you read in my last post, that was changed right at the last minute when we found out that he was pushed back. Thus my trip more than doubled the time that I would spend away from Jaren.

I started off in Utah visiting with friends and family. I should give a big shout out right now to Jenny Weenig for coming to the airport bearing gifts of mini Snickers. Seriously, I love that girl! Marci and Kara, and Momma Brooks were also there to suprise me and make me feel like I was special.

One of my first stops was lunch with Lena, and little cutie pie Cora. I love this baby so much it hurts. And I think she loves me back. :) It was a joy to spend time with Leenz, and plot our babies total world domination. May the new generation of "Golden Children" begin! :)

Next was a get together with some old roommates and fellow friends from the Willow Creek Singles ward. From left to right: Molly, Rachel, Marnie, and me! So good to see these girls, eat Indian food, and laugh at how simple our lives have become. And of course, lots of good advice about the pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding, and the like.

My Mom had her birthday while we were there. We celebrated multiple nights with different siblings (as their schedule would allow). Lucky me, I got to go to all of them! This is a picture of Mom at the Cheesecake factory. We had a fun night that night, and I will always have a great story involving my brother and his math skills. :)

My absolute favorite thing that I did while in Utah was spend two days back to back walking up the Temple Quarry Trail. I wish that I had brought my camera for day one with Laura... but alas, I'm pregnant - and can't remember anything.

I did remember it on my second day out with Beth. Although I was much more distracted this day, as I was having to lie over and over again to Beth. You see, I was a part of this amazing plot to get her engaged that night to my good friend Josh. So I had to make up all these stories to keep her for the day. We got our nails done, and then went walking up this trail. Then I dropped her off, and left her to Josh and the engagement. She never saw a thing coming... Basically I'm a great liar. Dang I'm good!

Really... I love this place. I totally cried a lot on the first day with Laura - just being out in the Canyon... next to the Granite. I'm such a climber, hippie girl... it's hilarious. It should be noted that my day with Laura was one of the most healing and joyful days I've had. She is a fountain of wisdom, truth, and love. To share the mountains with her was to find Zen. (see... total hippie)

One of the nights I got together with my girlfriends from High School. Amy is sitting on the floor, (left to right), Leah, Taryn, me, Tiffany, and Amber.... and all of their kids. Well not all of them... there are some kids missing from this photo - if you can believe it. Girls night out was officially overrun by the little boys. Love it. Gwen, Melissa, and Lisa - you were sincerely missed. We love you.

Oh yeah, got a lot more advice on the pregnancy this night too. Good times!

Somewhere near the end of my stay, I got to spend a night with the elusive Summer...

And that hard to catch Jenny... They had crazy schedules, and were gone for most of the time I was there. So it was nice to find some time together. We of course ate yummy Thai food at Thai Spice. There isn't much I wouldn't do for this food, or these girls!

On the day before I left; Emily, Lena and I had some Cafe Rio take out - and enjoyed the kids in the back yard. It was so nice just to spend time with these girls, hug them, and see how big Carter and Ellie (Em's kids) have gotten. I like to think of us as the Trio of Trouble. Watch out world... big things will be coming from this group.

There are so many friends and family members that I saw that I just didn't have my camera with me to document. It's not that I don't love them, it's just that my brain has been sucked out of my head by this baby. So please don't feel bad if your not in the blog... I love you, and you know it because I spent what precious time I had there with you!

Also, a big dilemma is that my videos from the trip aren't uploading right... so Kayden's PBR (Professional Bull Riding) debut, and Marci and Kara's races on mini vehicles aren't going to show up. Grrrr. Just know that if I can get them on here, you'll want to reread this post.

After Utah, I drove with my Mom, Dad, sister Siobhan, her girlfriend Miriah, and my niece Marty in a motor home to Arkansas. We went to see my Dad's side of the family. We drove straight through so that we could make it to "Decoration Day." Basically it's a big family reunion up at the family cemetery. I am so glad that we made it. Jaren drove up 9 hours to meet us here for one day.

This is a picture of my Dad (far right), and his Mom (middle), and his brother Sam (left), and Helen ( left). I love this picture. You should have seen my Dad in Arkansas... acting like a little boy. Out on the front porch giggling with his brother, teasing his sister, and not minding his mother. I got to rub in my Dad's face that he does in fact sometimes NOT do what his mother has asked.... and that sometimes he DOES argue with her. Not disrespectfully or anything like it... but up until this point in my life my Dad had been telling us kids that he had NEVER said the word NO to his Mom. Ha! Caught ya Dad! :)

This is also a great pic of Sam and my Dad, looking at Grandpa's grave. It was a very touching moment for all of us. This was the first time my Dad got to see the grave site...

This is one of the pictures of Grandma's family. I will try to tell you who's in it.

Front row: ?, Grandma Flynn, Aunt Bea Thompson, ?

Middle row: Kaitlyn Capps, Suzy (cousin), Aunt Helen, me, Jaren

Back Row: Mary Capps (Cousin), her husband Scotty is trying to hide behind her with the hat on, Aunt Darlene Flynn, Sam Flynn, Dad (James Flynn), Siobhan (sister)

This is a typical moment in the life of my Grandma. She never stops. She goes and goes and goes. She makes the energizer bunny look lazy. That stool of hers helps her every step of the way. She carts it all over the place. I loved it.

This is my Grandma telling my Dad that he put the dirt in the wrong place, and that he wasn't supporting the plants in the right way. I don't know why, but this made me laugh so much... I had to snap a picture of it, and write about it.

This was Grandma "just cooking breakfast." Holy cow, you've never seen a breakfast like this... unless you worked as a Chef in Little America. On the menu: Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Brenna's Veggie Sausage, Biscuits, Gravy, Hash browns, Strawberry Jam.... all hand made... all made fresh that morning. Every day. Best part was... she was already starting to make lunch before you had breakfast down. This particular morning, she had already made two pies by the time anyone even came in the kitchen.

Grandma taught me how to make her pies... including her amazing crust. I learned how to make Pecan pie, and Coconut Cream... yummy!

This is the Coconut Cream up close. She makes her pies with a Meringue.

One of our trips in Arkansas was to Heber Lake. It was a colder day, but we didn't let it stop us from getting in the water.

Marty was ready to do some swimming!

And Siobhan was busy trying to fit in with the locals....

The last day of Arkansas was spent crying. Saying goodbye to all of your family at once is hard. Luckily my cousin Mary was making a drive down to Disney World, and was able to give me a ride home. It was a long (and kinda physically painful) drive - but we made it.

I arrived to the joy of Jaren turning the cooler off, and leaving some food in the garbage can and garbage disposal. Home does not = the smell of hot garbage. Unfortunately, this is what my Mary and her family got to enjoy... it took forever to air out.

Now I'm home and just enjoying the fact that this feels like home. This feels like where I'm supposed to be. It will feel even better when Jaren is back from SERE and we can enjoy it together. I miss him terribly.

At that time I will post the cutest ultrasound pictures ever - as well as announce the sex of our baby. Right now that information is waiting for Jaren and I in a little envelope on our fridge. May I have the restraint to not go rip it open before he gets home. I truly want to share that moment with him, and I believe he should know first. (I'm totally writing this to convince myself that I would be a terrible person if I gave in and opened that envelope!)

Thanks again to Mom and Dad Brooks for flying me out to Utah, and for making this entire trip possible. I am so grateful to have been able to spend time with the people I love, in a place that makes me feel so completely whole. I love you so much, and am so lucky to have such a wonderful family.

Thanks to Mom and Dad Flynn for driving me to Arkansas, and for giving me unforgettable memories that I shall always cherish.